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Department of Computing Science
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, UK
http://www.csd.abdn.ac.uk/
EPSRC Case PhD Studentship in Light-weight rule extended ontology languages
***Deadline for applications: Aug 31st***
Applications are sought for a funded EPSRC CASE studentship supported by HP on light-weight rule-extended ontology languages. The project aims to efficiently support a useful subset of the W3C standard Web Ontology Language OWL and the coming W3C rule standard RIF (Rule Interchange Format).
Ontologies play an important role in the Semantic Web. Nowadays, the OWL Web Ontology Language, which is based on Description Logics, has been standardised by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It has also been argued that rules are very useful in the Web; accordingly, W3C has set up the Rule Interchange Format (RIF) Working Group to produce a core rule language plus extensions which facilitate rules interchangability in the Web. Both the University of Aberdeen and HP are already active in this area, and will cultivate existing contacts with the W3C and other standardisation bodies, with a view to agreeing new Web standards. It is anticipated that a light-weight rule-extended ontology language is needed to provide efficient reasoning support for a useful subset of OWL and RIF, which is a completely unexplored topic as RIF is still under design and will only become a standard in late 2006 or 2007.
Applicants should have a good Undergraduate (at the 2-1 level or higher) or Masters Degree in either Computing Science or a related discipline. They should be strongly motivated to conduct original research and with the personal skills required to work closely with our industrial collaborator.
This studentship will provide maintenance and fees for UK students or EU students with three year's UK residence (EPSRC rules determine eligibility): Maintenance Â£12,300 for session 2006/7.
Please direct enquiries to Dr Jeff Z. Pan by email jpan@csd.abdn.ac.uk . A formal application including a CV will be required.
Closing Date: 31 August 2006